Do we have a source on this yet? I'm tempted to email/call Disney and ask. Our trip is in January and if they'll have changed the park princesses to these new looks, I will honestly probably cancel the trip and go somewhere else (like Europe, which would probably be cheaper than what our trip costs). That's how much I absolutely loathe the redesigns.

Another dislike here, we passed on the merchandise (specifically clothing) in the Disney Store for our upcoming trip. My teen girls were appalled by the new looks and my 8 year old said it was sad. Please bring back the classic Cinderella Disney!

Do we have a source on this yet? I'm tempted to email/call Disney and ask. Our trip is in January and if they'll have changed the park princesses to these new looks, I will honestly probably cancel the trip and go somewhere else (like Europe, which would probably be cheaper than what our trip costs). That's how much I absolutely loathe the redesigns.

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Unfortunately I can say its 100% happening. I've looked into it more since my original posting and Cinderella is the first of all the princesses to get the new makeover. Over the next several months they'll be "updating" all of the girls. I spoke with one of the face characters who tested the new outfit and she said the dress is very elegant, but is massive in size (she compared them to Belle and Tiana's dresses).

Unfortunately I can say its 100% happening. I've looked into it more since my original posting and Cinderella is the first of all the princesses to get the new makeover. Over the next several months they'll be "updating" all of the girls. I spoke with one of the face characters who tested the new outfit and she said the dress is very elegant, but is massive in size (she compared them to Belle and Tiana's dresses).

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Maybe we should feel lucky that on our 1st Disney trip we'll get the "old" Cinderella.

Unfortunately I can say its 100% happening. I've looked into it more since my original posting and Cinderella is the first of all the princesses to get the new makeover. Over the next several months they'll be "updating" all of the girls. I spoke with one of the face characters who tested the new outfit and she said the dress is very elegant, but is massive in size (she compared them to Belle and Tiana's dresses).

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I can't begin to tell you how utterly sad this makes me.
Although it makes me wonder- we had Royal Guest Rooms booked. Are they going to change all the art in those too? What about all the art around with how the princesses are supposed to look? Like the stained glass windows in Cinderella's Castle?

I spent quite a lot of time comparing the old to the new to see if I could find what many of you are complaining about and really, the only large difference I see is the hair style (which is modern, but nothing scandalous!). Clothes are almost identical. Accessories are almost identical. Make up - I really don't see the big difference. MAYBE more eyeliner, but certainly not a ton more. The colors in general are bolder, but that's the dress and everything - just a more modern color scheme.

Now I DO understand that some of you have long and fond memories and associations with Cinderella. For those of you who have those memories, I can see why the change would be unwelcome. It always stings to see changes to our memories. (I'm a Wisconsin football fan and I HATED when they changed the old style "W" helmet to a more "modern" "W" style... I get it...)

BUT... I'm glad to see Disney having the foresight and initiative to update their characters. After all Cinderella is not for us (the old folks) as much as it is for the young kids coming up. They have to imaging being Cinderella, and a 2010 girl is just not going to connect as well to a 1950 Cinderella. It just makes sense that she look more modern. I expect in 2050 she'll have to be updated a bit again. Remember, the Mickey Mouse we know today is NOT the original Mickey Mouse (thankfully!)

If we want Disney to remain relevant to people (especially young girls) for years to come, Disney has to walk a difficult and fine line between respecting and acknowledging tradition, staying faithful and true to the spirit of the Disney characters, and STILL connecting those characters to the modern world. Otherwise Cinderella and the rest will end up feeling like museum pieces.

I think a great example of "Disney-modern" is Rapunzel in Tangled. I loved that movie for many reasons, but most of all, because I really loved Rapunzel. She was the model for a modern young "Disney" woman - smart, brave, irreverent, daring, kind-hearted, noble, good, etc. (and [spoiler alert] a spiky short brown hair-do too!) In short, she was a totally modern interpretation of a classic Disney princess - to my mind exactly what Disney should be doing.

To me the bigger question is not whether to update characters now and then (to which I'd say absolutely YES), but rather, is this a GOOD update. And I say Yes! - I think they got it right with "Cinderella 2012". This change is modern yet faithful to the original. It in no way violates the sense of who she is - it's not like she's running around in skinny jeans and green hair.

Same clothes, same accessories, same fundamental style - just perked up a bit with a new "do", some extra-shine on the accessories, and a bolder color scheme.

And - by pure chance - just a few days ago I also ran into the Cinderella dolls at Target (before this came up), noticed the difference, and really liked them! In fact I compared them to Barbie and other dolls and told my wife how much I appreciated a modern take on Cinderella that seemed genuinely nice, appropriate, and "Disney" as compared to the garbage that other toy manufacturers are churning out.

The new Cinderella is not Barbie-ish at all to my eyes, let alone Bratz-ish.